Editorial: Time to tackle sports' bad boys

Monday

Aug 27, 2007 at 12:01 AMAug 27, 2007 at 11:07 AM

Michael Vick is no Peyton Manning, in more ways than one.

Michael Vick is no Peyton Manning, in more ways than one.

Not only does Vick lack a Super Bowl ring, but he is expected to officially become a felon and former National Football League quarterback today as he appears before a judge to plead guilty to bankrolling and participating in underground dogfighting, an activity best described as heinous. After details of his plea agreement emerged Friday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell moved quickly to suspend him indefinitely. No matter the length of his pending prison term, his pro football career may be over.

The Atlanta Falcons player has admitted guilt to a conspiracy charge of interstate commerce for the purpose of dogfighting, while also conceding that he aided in the killing of weaker dogs, sometimes by drowning and hanging. If that got to Goodell, so did Vick's “association with illegal gambling.” Though Vick maintains that he did not personally place any wagers, nothing - not even the inhumanity of its participants – scares the bejesus out of professional sports leagues like gambling, because it undermines the fundamental integrity of the game. Goodell has little choice but to send the strongest of messages, unless he plans on marketing the NFL to fans as “The League of Anything Goes.”

Anyway, put Vick on the list.

He joins an ignominious roster of people who've run afoul of the law, morality or both. The list reaches back to the Black Sox and Pete Rose, but it has grown exponentially of late. From an allegedly steroid-swollen Barry Bonds to NBA referee Tim Donaghy to who knows how many riders in the Tour de France, in 2007 sport has practically become synonymous with sinner and scoundrel. Record-keepers may as well start adding rap sheets to athletes' stats.

Of course for every Vick, there are dozens of Mannings, Tony Gwynns and Cal Ripkens - accomplished, honest human beings and role models who not only recognize right from wrong but honor the boundary line between them. But the bad apples are spoiling the bunch and setting a lousy example for the kids who aspire to fill their shoes.

Perhaps it's time to split pro sports into two leagues, like shirts and skins: artificially enhanced vs. all-natural; jailbirds vs. freebirds; druggies, batterers, drunks and gamblers vs. gallant guys and gals. We can even have an Organic Olympics paired off against the Chemical Games. It'll be interesting to see which gets the higher ratings.

Meanwhile, just chalk Michael Vick up as one more grotesquely overpaid, pampered athlete who had so little appreciation for how lucky he was that he tossed it all away.